Character forming apparatus

Abstract

A character forming apparatus includes (1) a character data storage unit for storing character data of each character pattern, the character data including a character code and the like, (2) a radical pattern data storage unit for storing a radical pattern and the like, (3) an input device for inputting the character code and a character size, (4) character data retrieving unit for retrieving character data corresponding to the inputted character code, (5) a character data coordinate changing unit for changing coordinates in accordance with the inputted character size, (6) a radical restoring unit for restoring a radical pattern, (7) a figure pattern restoring unit for changing the figure pattern and restoring it, (8) a developing unit for developing the restored character data into a dot pattern, and (9) an output device for outputting the dot pattern.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A character forming apparatus comprising: a character data storage unit for storing character data of each character pattern, the character data including a character code, a radical pattern code indicating a radical pattern, figure pattern data change information for correcting a figure pattern representing an outline of a stroke, and restoration information on a position and size of the radical pattern;   a radical pattern data storage unit for storing radical data including a radical pattern, a radical pattern code, radical restoration information, a figure pattern, and a figure pattern code;   an input unit for inputting the character code and the character size;   a character data retrieving unit for retrieving character data corresponding to the inputted character code from said character data storage unit;   a character data coordinate changing unit for changing coordinates for enlargement or reduction in accordance with the inputted character size;   a radical restoring unit for, in the case where a radical pattern code exists in the character data, restoring the radical data;   a figure pattern restoring unit for, in the case where a figure pattern code exists in the radical data, changing the figure pattern and restoring it, said figure pattern restoring unit being provided either inside or outside said radical restoring unit;   a developing unit for developing the restored character data into a dot pattern; and   an output unit for outputting the dot pattern.   
     
     
       2. The character forming apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein during the figure pattern changing operation by said figure pattern restoring unit, operations such as replacement, parallel transfer, and deformation by transfer of points on an outline are carried out. 
     
     
       3. The character forming apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said figure pattern restoring unit includes: a figure pattern replacement checking section for checking whether or not figure pattern replacement information exists in the figure pattern data change information in the character data;   a figure pattern data replacing unit for, in the case where the figure pattern replacement information exists, replacing the figure pattern data included in the radical data by referring to corresponding figure pattern data included as figure pattern replacement information in the character data;   a figure pattern position change checking unit for checking whether or not figure pattern position change information exists in the figure pattern data change information in the character data;   a figure pattern coordinate changing unit for, in the case where the figure pattern position change information exists, changing coordinates of points on the outline of the figure pattern so as to change the position of the figure pattern;   a figure pattern deformation checking unit for checking whether or not figure pattern deformation information exists in the figure pattern data change information in the character data; and   a figure pattern deforming unit for, in the case where the figure pattern deformation information exists, deforming the figure pattern in the radical data, in accordance with coordinates after deformation stored in the figure pattern deformation information.   
     
     
       4. The character forming apparatus as set forth in claim 3, wherein said radical restoring unit includes: a radical pattern code checking unit for checking whether or not a radical pattern code exists in the character data;   a radical pattern retrieving unit for, in the case where the radical pattern code exists in the character data, retrieving a corresponding radical pattern from said radical pattern data storage unit; and   a radical pattern restoring unit for restoring the radical pattern included in the character data, in accordance with the restoration information stored in said character data storage unit,   wherein said figure pattern restoring unit is provided inside said radical restoring unit.   
     
     
       5. The character forming apparatus as set forth in claim 4, wherein during the figure pattern changing operation by said figure pattern restoring unit, figure pattern data replacement, figure pattern position change, and figure pattern deformation are carried out in this order, prior to the restoration of each radical pattern. 
     
     
       6. The character forming apparatus as set forth in claim 5, wherein, when there is any operation indicated as unecessary among the three operations, such unnecessary operation is omitted. 
     
     
       7. The character forming apparatus as set forth in claim 6, wherein in the case where a plurality of radical pattern codes are included in the character data, the whole process of the radical pattern change and restoration is carried out with respect to one radical pattern, and thereafter, the process is carried out to another radical pattern. 
     
     
       8. The character forming apparatus as set forth in claim 7, wherein the character data are developed into a dot pattern after all the radical patterns are restored.